As the fall season approaches, Americans are likely to see an increase in vaccine-preventable respiratory diseases, which tend to be more prevalent during colder months. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 was designed to mitigate this by requiring Medicare drug plans to offer recommended vaccines at no cost to enrollees. However, Project 2025's proposal to repeal the IRA could eliminate this benefit for 54 million Medicare beneficiaries.
A recent column from the Center for American Progress outlines how repealing the IRA would jeopardize access to lifesaving vaccines, raise healthcare costs, and endanger health outcomes—particularly for marginalized groups. Key points from the column include:
Project 2025 would revoke guaranteed access to free vaccines for nearly 54 million Part D Medicare enrollees. Vaccines are crucial in preventing diseases such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and shingles, especially among older adults who are at higher risk.
The plan would increase healthcare costs for Medicare enrollees and reduce vaccination rates. Before the IRA eliminated vaccine cost-sharing, Medicare Part D enrollees spent $234 million out-of-pocket on vaccines in 2021. After the IRA was enacted, 20 percent of Medicare Part D enrollees received a recommended free vaccine in 2023, compared with only 7 percent in 2021.
Black and Latino adults and those with lower incomes would be most adversely affected by losing no-cost vaccines. Structural racism has created barriers that impact vaccine uptake among Black and Latino older adults compared with white adults. Eliminating out-of-pocket costs helps boost vaccination rates among these groups.
"Project 2025’s plan to repeal the IRA and take away no-cost vaccine coverage for Medicare beneficiaries would cost millions," said Jill Rosenthal, director of public health policy at CAP and co-author of the column. "This would turn back the clock and discourage Medicare beneficiaries from getting vaccines that can help them stay healthy," she added. "Reimposing these barriers to accessing critical vaccines would threaten the health and economic security of vulnerable older Americans."
The full column titled “Project 2025 Would Eliminate No-Cost Vaccines for 54 Million Medicare Beneficiaries” is authored by Jill Rosenthal and Marquisha Johns.
For further information or expert commentary, please contact Jasmine Razeghi at [email protected].
